Wesley+Hospital

In May of 1919, 27-year-old nurse Gertrude Schaefer, a widow, died at Chicago's Wesley Hospital from an abortion perpetrated by an unidentified person.

In September of 1918, 35-year-old homemaker Gertrude Harrington died in Chicago's Wesley Hospital from an abortion perpetrated by Helen Dugdale, whose profession is given as "abortion provider." Although Dugdale was arrested, the case never went to trial.

In January of 1915, 23-year-old Mrs. Beulah Rehm died at Wesley Hospital after an abortion perpetrated that day at Dr. A.L. Blunt's Chicago practice. Blunt was held by the Coroner but the case never went to trial.

In October of 1914, eighteen-year-old Lillie Giovenco died at Wesley Hospital in Chicago from complications of a criminal abortion. Dr. Eva Shaver, Dr. Leopold Pijan, and Dr. John Fernow were held by the coroner in Lillie's death.

In January of 1907, 24-year-old housekeeper Sarah Cushing died in Wesley Hospital in Chicago, from complications of a criminal abortion performed there that day. A midwife named Gertrude Plenz was arrested on January 24, and held by the coroner's jury.

Jennie F Martin, a 28year-old homemaker, died January 16, 1906 in Wesley Hospital in Chicago from complications of a criminal abortion. Dr. William F. Briney was held by the coroner's jury.

Mercedes Berriogobel, age 15, had sought an abortion someplace in Chicago on the first of February, 1906, but the attempt caused her physical problems without killing the baby. In an attempt to save her life, Dr. Ubayarrel Holmes perfomed a legal abortion on her in Wesley Hospital. This attempt proved to be in vain, and Mercedes died of [|blood poisoning] later that week. Holmes, interestingly enough, was known as a criminal abortionist, but was not believed to have made the initial attempt to abort Mercedes.

Wesley Memorial Hospital was a highly reputable institution, founded in 1888. In 1972 it was merged with Passavant Memorial to form Northwestern Memorial Hospital.